Thanks for the reply...the deed of trust is with J.C. Mueller Investment Company...near as I can tell they are long gone and tracking down a release would probably be impossible.  The investor was told by one title company that they would not insure it becuase the mortgage is enforceable for 20 years past maturity...would the next step for him be to just try another title company with a different underwriter?  You wouldn't happen to know the names of any of those underwriters willing to do that? :-)